- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-17722 by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008, whether it is aware of concerns among owners of working dogs that urban vets comprise a majority of those involved in the UK study into tail injuries in dogs and whether it will take action to ensure that more rural vets are included in the study.
Answer
The Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol Veterinary School have recruited an additional 30 veterinary practices which has increased the GB rural based practices from 12 to 19.
In Scotland the study will involve a total of 19 veterinary practices of which 12 are rural.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the proposed high voltage direct current sub sea cable for transmitting electricity from the Shetland Islands to the mainland to allow connection of future renewable developments on the islands.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17911 on 21 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the power-generation industry concerning the feasibility of proposed infrastructure development to connect the Shetland Islands and other Scottish islands with significant renewable energy potential to the mainland grid system, in light of targets for cutting carbon emissions by 80% by 2050.
Answer
Scottish ministers are committed to ensuring a diverse, sustainable and secure energy supply for Scotland''s energy needs, and to meet our targets for reducing carbon emissions and tackling the challenge of climate change. Both existing and new renewable energy will play roles in this.
We recognise there are constraints in grid capacity and management that need to be addressed, including developing appropriate transmission infrastructure for the Shetland Islands and other Scottish islands. We are clear that the current transmission arrangements work against the development of renewable and clean energy in communities across Scotland. We therefore believe that grid reinforcement is necessary to enable Scotland to fully realise our renewable energy potential and improved connectivity for the highlands and islands will be key to achieving this.
While responsibility for policy on the transmission network is a matter primarily for the UK Government, we are in continuous discussions with the UK Government, National Grid and Ofgem as well as the Scottish transmission system owners on a wide range of grid related issues, including connection of island communities to the electricity distribution network. This includes participation in the current review of grid access arrangements. As developing and funding transmission infrastructure is a commercial matter for the energy industry we are also in ongoing engagement with Scottish electricity companies on their planned and future investment plans for grid development across Scotland.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available for the construction of the proposed high voltage direct current sub sea cable for transmitting electricity from the Shetland Islands to the mainland.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17911 on 21 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Friday, 14 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jim Mather on 21 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with National Grid Electricity Transmission concerning connections from Scottish islands to the GB transmission system.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-17911 on 21 November 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament''s website, the search facility for which can be found at
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 20 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the paper entitled “A survey of gundog lameness and injuries in Great Britain in the shooting seasons 2005-06 and 2006-07”, which was published in issue 3, 2008 of Veterinary and Comparative Orthapaedics and Traumatology.
Answer
This research paper by Mr Houlton records injuries sustained by working gun dogs over the two shooting seasons. A total of 337 dogs were injured (24.8% of the group) including 114 foot and lameness injuries and 41 tail injuries. The report demonstrates that there was a highly significant association between tail injuries and undocked Springer and Cocker Spaniels.
However, there were only 22 undocked Springer and Cocker Spaniels in the study group compared to 409 docked dogs in these breeds. It is therefore considered advisable to await the results of the research on tail injuries being conducted by the Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol Veterinary School before any consideration is given to reviewing the ban on tail docking.
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, whether it accepts that people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance and that, rather than as stated in the answer, this is defined by high insulin levels in the presence of initially normal glucose levels.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-16946 by Shona Robison on 5 November 2008, given that many countries across the world and many private laboratories in the United Kingdom routinely test for insulin levels as an indicator of diabetes, whether it will review its position on testing for insulin levels.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 18 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Awaiting answer
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it accepts that people with type 2 diabetes are likely to have demonstrated raised insulin levels for some years before they demonstrate raised glucose levels.
Answer
Awaiting answer
- Asked by: Jamie McGrigor, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 11 November 2008
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 14 November 2008
To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made by the UK case control study to estimate the risk of tail injury to dogs, to which the Scottish Government has contributed funding.
Answer
At September 2008, 30 veterinary practices had been recruited to participate in the research study by the Royal Veterinary College and the University of Bristol Veterinary School, investigating risk factors for tail injuries for dogs in the UK. Of these practices, 12 are rurally located and 18 are urban. Data has been received for 12 of these practices and 406 questionnaires were sent to pet owners (86 cases and 320 controls).
The response rate was 24.4% for the cases and 26.2% for the controls. This response rate was lower than expected, as was the number of cases of tail injuries identified by each veterinary practice. However, based on the questionnaires received by September, 13% of the controls had docked tails and, therefore, the sample calculations could be revised such that only 150 to 200 cases would be needed.
The researchers plan to recruit more veterinary practices and send reminder letters to the non-responders. Data collection will continue until the end of 2008, when analysis can be started and the report prepared. The final report is due by April 2009.
